Department for Transport

Railway Network

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to re-open any of the routes closed in the Beeching cuts, as pledged in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto; and if they have any such plans, when they intend to do so.

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to accelerate the procedurefor the re-opening of closed railway routes.

baroness vere of norbiton: We have pledged £500m to reopening railway lines and stations. We invited MPs to come forward with proposals. The deadline for these proposals was 16 March. A panel comprising Ministers and rail and community experts are looking at these and we will be writing to applicants on next steps. A second round is planned for June. Some projects, such as the Ashington Blyth line, have been accelerated and are already in development.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

British Business Bank

lord mann: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether new challenger banks have been accepted as an official lender by the British Business Bank; if not, why not; what estimate they have made of the time that it will take for small and medium sized companies to be able to speak to potential lenders to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; and what plans they have to ensure that access is given promptly.

lord callanan: The priority for the British Business Bank (BBB) has been to get the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme up and running, delivering urgently needed finance to UK SMEs. In order to achieve that, the Bank has worked with the already existing infrastructure and the 40 accredited lenders to make this operational as soon as possible. Existing lenders range from high-street banks to challenger banks, asset-based lenders and smaller specialist local lenders. Now that the scheme has successfully launched, accrediting new partners is a top priority. The Bank has put in place substantial additional resource to assist with processing applications from new lenders as quickly as possible. The scheme went live on Monday 23 March, so businesses are able to speak to lenders now and apply for facilities. Businesses should check on the British Business Bank’s webpage to find out which lenders are able to provide the type of finance they are looking for.

Travel Agents: Coronavirus

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure action is taken against travel agents who fail to honour contractual commitments regarding the cancellation of travel and holiday arrangements; and whether they are considering any support for consumers affected by any such failures.

lord callanan: Under consumer law consumers are entitled to a refund within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Many businesses are also offering consumers vouchers or alternative dates, which consumers are able to choose should they wish. The Government is engaging with the package travel sector and consumer advocacy bodies to assess the impact of cancellations made in light of the covid-19 outbreak.

Travel Agents: Coronavirus

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure action is taken against travel agents whose approach towards refunds is inconsistent with consumer rights legislation and, in particular, the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.

lord callanan: The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 protect consumers who have bought package holidays. Under existing consumer law consumers are able to choose a voucher or credit note should they wish. We are engaging with the package travel sector and others to assess the impact of the covid-19 outbreak.

Travel Agents: Repayments

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amendthe provisions of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 in relation to the contractual commitments of travel agents regarding the refunding of holiday and travel bookings; and, if they have any such plans, what steps they are taking to ensure that any such changes are not financially detrimental to consumers.

lord callanan: Under consumer law consumers are entitled to a refund within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Many businesses are also offering consumers vouchers or alternative dates, which consumers are able to choose should they wish. The Government is engaging with the package travel sector and consumer advocacy bodies to assess the impact of cancellations made in light of the covid-19 outbreak. We recognise the extremely difficult circumstances travel agents are currently facing, which is why on 17 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a wide range of support for businesses, in addition to the £30bn support announced in the budget.

Companies: Coronavirus

lord smith of finsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the maximum time between which companies must hold annual general meetings, as set out in section 336 of the Companies Act 2006, due to the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: The Government has announced a number of measures to reduce burdens on businesses small and large during the Covid-19 outbreak as part of the measures announced by the Chancellor and as set out in the Coronavirus Act. Further measures are being developed and will be announced in due course. The Government has also been working closely with stakeholders in developing guidance on how to conduct Annual General Meetings in the face of Covid-19 restrictions. The guidance is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s and Chartered Governance Institute’s websites and is being kept under review in light of evolving circumstances. We have continued to listen and work closely with businesses to ensure they are able to conduct their business in a safe, orderly and effective way. As a consequence we announced on 28 March our intention to legislate as soon as possible to give companies greater, temporary flexibility.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Press Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of China has revoked the press credentials of journalists from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; and whether such revocation constitutes a breach of the 1984 Sino–British Joint Declaration.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Chinese Government's announcement that they will prevent certain American journalists from working in China and Macao further restricts transparency at a particularly important time. The suggestion by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that this measure may apply in Hong Kong is deeply concerning. The Sino-British Joint Declaration is clear. It sets out that immigration decisions are the sole responsibility of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and freedom of the press is guaranteed. It is imperative that these rights and freedoms are fully respected.The leadership in China and Hong Kong is in no doubt about the strength of UK concern over the current situation, and our commitment to seeing the rights and freedoms provided for in the Joint Declaration upheld. We remain in frequent contact with the Chinese and Hong Kong SAR Governments on this issue.

Hong Kong: Freedom of Expression

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about the preservation of freedom of speech in Hong Kong following the withdrawal of press credentials from journalists from the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and New York Times.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Chinese Government's announcement that they will prevent certain American journalists from working in China and Macao further restricts transparency at a particularly important time. The suggestion by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that this measure may apply in Hong Kong is deeply concerning. The Sino-British Joint Declaration is clear. It sets out that immigration decisions are the sole responsibility of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and freedom of the press is guaranteed. It is imperative that these rights and freedoms are fully respected.The leadership in China and Hong Kong is in no doubt about the strength of UK concern over the current situation, and our commitment to seeing the rights and freedoms provided for in the Joint Declaration upheld. We remain in frequent contact with the Chinese and Hong Kong SAR Governments on this issue.

China: Wildlife

lord mawson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Chinaabout stopping the trade in global wildlife for human consumption.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Pandemics arise as a combination of events and are a global concern. The origin of the Covid-19 virus is not yet clear, although it has been linked to viruses occurring in animals. The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to regulate global trade in wild animals and my officials regularly raise our concerns with other governments, including China, and with international authorities. The World Animal Health Organisation, of which the UK is a member, will be addressing wildlife trade at the next general session in May 2020. On 24 February 2020, China's National People's Congress passed a law banning the wildlife trade and the consumption of wild animals.

China: Wildlife

lord mawson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihoodof pandemicsresulting from the tradeof global wildlife in China.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The origin of the Covid-19 virus is not yet clear, although it has been linked to viruses occurring in animals. Pandemics arise as a combination of events and are a global concern. The World Animal Health Organisation, of which the UK is a member, will be addressing wildlife trade at the next general session. It will be important to definitively establish Covid-19's origins in due course. On 24 February 2020 China announced a proposal prohibiting the trade and consumption of wildlife and we will continue to discuss this important issue with the Chinese government.

Zakeya Albarboori

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement by the government of Bahrain on 12 March that it will release 1,486 detainees for “humanitarian reasons, in the backdrop of current circumstances", what representations they have made to that government about the case of Zakeya AlBarboori and her release.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We welcome news of a royal pardon for 901 Bahraini prisoners and the conversion to alternative sentencing of a further 585 individuals' sentences. We have previously raised the case of Zakeya AlBarboori with the Government of Bahrain.

Sayad Nazar al-Wadaei

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement by the government of Bahrain on 12 March that it will release 1,486 detainees for “humanitarian reasons, in the backdrop of current circumstances", what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about the release of Sayed Nizar Alwadaei, who was deemed arbitrarily detained by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 7 January 2019; and what discussions they have had with that government about the reasons why Sayed Nizar Alwadaei and other vulnerable political prisoners, including Hassan Mushaima and Abduljalil al-Singace, were reportedly declared ineligible for release.

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement by the government of Bahrain on 12 March that it will release 1,486 detainees for “humanitarian reasons, in the backdrop of current circumstances” and the statement by Human Rights Watch on 23 March which notes that “Bahraini authorities have not released any prominent political leaders or human rights defenders”, whatrepresentations they have made to that governmentabout the release of political prisoners in Bahrain including Nabeel Rajab, Hassan Mushaima and Abduljalil al-Singace, who suffer from compromised health conditions.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We welcome news of a royal pardon for 901 Bahraini prisoners and the conversion to alternative sentencing of a further 585 individuals' sentences. We have previously raised the cases of Sayed Nizar Al Wadaei, Hassan Mushaima, Abduljalil al-Singace and Nabeel Rajab at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain, including health concerns. We continue to monitor these cases.

Human Rights

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development on 9 March (HC25129), what measures are in place to ensure that security training provided by third-parties to the governments of Bahrain and other FCO human rights priority countries are periodically assessed to ensure that (1) potential human rights risks are adequately assessed, and (2) such training is effective and conforms to Government standards.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Any assistance provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is kept under regular review to ensure it is in line with international standards, and fully complies with our human rights obligations and the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance process.

Israel: Bedouin

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that that government destroyed agricultural land and crops in two Bedouin communities in the Negev desert on 16 March.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Whilst we have not made any representations on these reports, we are troubled by reports of assaults on farmers and vandalism of agricultural land. We continue to encourage the Israeli authorities and Bedouin communities to engage in dialogue to agree a satisfactory solution to the issue, respecting the rights of the people affected.

Palestinians: Arrests

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that Palestinians trying to raise awareness of COVID-19 in East Jerusalem were arrested.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Whilst we have not made any representations regarding these reports, the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and the British Consulate-General in Jerusalem are in regular contact with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities respectively. Both report good co-operation between the two entities in response to COVID-19.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that money and belongings from Palestinian homes have been confiscated by Israeli Defence Forces without legal reason.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not made representations on these reports, we have stressed the importance of the Israel Defence Forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. The practice of confiscations causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians.

Coronavirus: International Cooperation

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have asked for assistance to help address the COVID-19 pandemic from countries less affected by COVID-19; and if so, what kind of assistance they have requested.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is leading with partners and allies to: support an effective and co-ordinated global health response led by WHO, reinforce the resilience of vulnerable countries, pursue a vaccine, support the global economy, and enable travelling nationals to return home where necessary. The UK will work with all our international partners to achieve these objectives, including with the G7, G20, as well as the UN and other multilateral institutions, in order to galvanise a stronger global effort.

Animals: Markets

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations theyplan to make to the United Nations to implement aglobal ban of so-called 'wet' markets.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to regulate global trade in wild animals and my officials regularly raise the issue of the illegal wildlife trade with other governments and with international authorities. The World Animal Health Organisation, of which the UK is a member, will be addressing wildlife trade at the next general session in May 2020. Pandemics arise as a combination of events and are a global concern. The origin of the Covid-19 virus is not yet clear, although it has been linked to viruses occurring in animals.

Department of Health and Social Care

House of Lords: Coronavirus

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to close Parliament and advise peers to work from home.

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to advise that the House of Lords be suspended to protect members, staff and the general public from COVID-19 infections.

lord bethell: In line with the latest Government advice and guidance from Public Health England, all visitor access to the Parliamentary estate stopped from 17 March. Access will be restricted to passholders and those on essential Parliamentary business.This decision has been taken by the Speakers and supported by clerks of both Houses, and Parliamentary authorities. Hon. Members, noble Lords, Parliamentary staff and other members of the Parliamentary community will continue to be able to work on the estate where necessary but are being strongly encouraged to work from home where possible and to follow the latest guidance on social distancing.

Hay Fever

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that the projected peak of COVID-19 will coincide with the hay fever season, what advice they are giving to hay fever sufferers

lord bethell: Individuals who suffer from hay fever should refer to the National Health Service and Public Health England guidance regarding the most common symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if these are present. A copy of the online guidance is attached.No specific guidance is planned for hay fever sufferers in relation to COVID-19, but NHS guidance on hay fever is attached.



Hay fever guidance
(PDF Document, 82.93 KB)




Symptoms of COVID
(PDF Document, 131.44 KB)

Coronavirus: Screening

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of mass testing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in theUK.

lord bethell: The number of people tested in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is set to rapidly increase in the coming weeks. This will help identify whether there is a need for individuals to be self-isolating, as well as those people who have already contracted and fought the disease and are safe to return to work or go out in public. This includes National Health Service staff.There is now capacity to carry out over 10,000 tests a day and this will rise to 25,000 by the end of April.Widespread diagnostic testing during a pandemic is enormously important to controlling the spread of infection.

Business: Coronavirus

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they aregiving, further to their advice on COVID-19, to industries where social interaction is a key element of the role of a business,in particularproperty sales, letting and management.

lord bethell: On 27 March, the Government published new guidance for those who are buying, selling or letting properties during the pandemic. This guidance includes advice to both the public and industry.Buyers who are due to move into an empty property are being advised to go ahead, but others have been told to delay their transaction.The Government stressed that while there was no need to pull out of a purchase, people must currently stay at home to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to enforce social isolation measures so companies can claim COVID-19 relief on their insurance.

lord bethell: The United Kingdom Government introduced three new measures which came into effect on 23 March:- Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes;- Closing certain businesses and venues; and- Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public.Every person in the UK must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, have been given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.The vast majority of business interruption insurance policies held by small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) will not include cover for business losses caused by a pandemic. In a very small number of cases in which a SME has purchased a business interruption insurance policy with additional cover for a ‘notifiable disease’, that SME will be covered. To address this, the Chancellor announced an unprecedented package of Government-backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses, making available an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of gross domestic product.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have provided, and plan to provide, in relation to religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Government has introduced social distancing guidance which should be implemented across all sectors including religious gatherings, this will help reduce the transmission of COVID-19. A copy of Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK is attached.Additionally, a scientific evidence-based review on the impact of mass gatherings on an influenza pandemic has been published. A copy of Impact of Mass Gatherings on an Influenza Pandemic: Scientific Evidence Base Review is attached.



Guidance on social distancing
(Word Document, 195.42 KB)




Mass gatherings evidence review
(PDF Document, 508.05 KB)

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have provided to the Muslim Council of Britain about (1) Friday prayers, and (2) the celebration of Ramadan, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Muslim Council of Britain continues to follow the Government’s and National Health Service COVID-19 advice as well as publishing their own guidance for the Muslim community. This guidance includes plans for likely suspension of congregational activities, advice for congregation members to keep good hygiene and support for the socially vulnerable and isolated. A copy of Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for mosques/madrasas and Umrah Pilgrims is attached.There is information on how Ramadan may be affected and whether United Kingdom mosques must similarly prepare for the very likely possibility of suspending iftar programs and congregational tarawih prayers.



Guidance for mosques madrasas and Umrah pilgrims
(Word Document, 294.87 KB)

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether schools contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

lord bethell: The Government has issued clear guidance on social distancing and asked that schools only remain open for those children who absolutely need to attend.This guidance is aimed at helping reduce the spread of the virus and reduce the mounting pressure on our National Health Service, allowing those most acutely affected with COVID-19 to access the care they need.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to issue social distancing guidance for delivery drivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Everyone has a duty to comply with the advice provided by the Government in relation to COVID-19, in order to protect both themselves and others. A copy of Guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19) is attached.When people order home deliveries, they should tell drivers to leave deliveries outside for collection. Delivery drivers should not be invited into a person’s home.



Guidance for employers and businesses
(Word Document, 24.27 KB)

Coronavirus: Airports

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to conductuniversal testing for COVID-19 atairports in England.

lord bethell: On 12 March 2020 the Prime Minister announced that the COVID-19 response was moving from the contain to delay phase. This phase has been initiated as there is now community transmission of the virus in the United Kingdom, i.e. transmission not directly related to travel; this has made interventions in ports of less relative importance. With the shift to the delay phase and commensurate policy changes, the Public Health England approach is that testing capacity should not be focused on airports.

Health Professions: Insurance

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether legal costs related to any (1) inquest, (2) regulatory, (3) employment, and (4) criminal, proceedings against healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, resulting from an inadvertent error made in the workplace when dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic will be covered by their professional indemnity scheme.

lord bethell: The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts and the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice, both administered by NHS Resolution, provide indemnity for clinical negligence liabilities for healthcare workers for the majority of NHS services in England. Some staff, such as community pharmacy professionals, are indemnified by their employer or hold their own personal indemnity product. Sections 10, 11 and 12 in the Coronavirus Act 2020 enables the Secretary of State to provide indemnity for clinical negligence liabilities arising from National Health Service activities carried out for the purposes of dealing with, or in consequence of, the coronavirus outbreak, where there is no existing indemnity arrangement in place. Together these schemes cover healthcare staff for clinical negligence liabilities arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new sections in the Act are effectively a backstop where other indemnity arrangements do not apply. NHS Resolution also meets legal representation costs at some inquests, on a discretionary basis, under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts. The state schemes do not extend to the costs of legal representation at regulatory, employment or criminal proceedings and many healthcare professionals obtain their own cover for these contingencies. We also recognise the importance for healthcare professionals of access to medico-legal advice and support, and the Medical Defence Organisations and other indemnity providers and are providing this advice and support to healthcare professionals assisting with the COVID-19 response.

Coronavirus: Salbutamol

lord mann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the availability of Ventolin; and what consideration they have given to enabling patients with symptoms of COVID-19 to purchase Ventolin without a prescription.

lord bethell: The Department has no current plans to enable salbutamol (for example, Ventolin by GSK) to be purchased over the counter without a prescription. The sale, supply and administration of prescription-only medicines, like Ventolin, are restricted by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 which are designed to protect the public. The main route by which a pharmacist is able to sell or supply a prescription-only medicine is under the authority of a prescription. The country is well prepared to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 and we have stockpiles of certain medicines, including salbutamol, in the event of any supply issues or significant increases in demand.

NHS: Identity Cards

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to protect NHS staff following reportsof staff beingmugged for their NHS staff identificationcards.

lord bethell: The Government condemns any instance of violence, abuse or robbery of National Health Service staff – such behaviour is despicable. Any robbery or attempted robbery of a NHS staff ID card should be reported to the police immediately, as it is a criminal offence.The NHS and the Crown Prosecution Service recently signed the Joint Agreement on Offences Against Emergency Workers. This agreement sets out a framework for the effective investigation and prosecution of cases where emergency workers are the victim of a crime and the standards that victims of these crimes can expect. The definition of an emergency worker in this agreement also includes all those who are employed to support the provision of NHS health services.NHS organisations will also have local arrangements in place to support staff who are the victim of a crime.

Department for Education

Children in Care: Female Genital Mutilation

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children have been taken into care as a result of the introduction of female genital mutilation safeguarding in 2015.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, after a child has been taken into care to safeguard against female genital mutilation (FGM), written reports on that child’s wellbeing are completed; and if so, whether those reports are reviewed to ensure that FGM safeguarding is in the child’s best interest.

baroness berridge: Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been illegal in the UK since the Female Circumcision Act of 1985, later the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, so safeguarding girls from FGM has been a responsibility of relevant services from much earlier than 2015. In 2015, the mandatory reporting of known cases of FGM was introduced.Data on the children who enter care does not identify the cases where FGM was the reason for a child being taken into care. Any such cases would be included in the broader category of “abuse or neglect”. Therefore, the department cannot say how many girls entering care had undergone FGM or were at risk of FGM.Every looked after child, whatever the reason for them entering care, must have a care plan that is regularly reviewed and updated, which sets out the plan for their day-to-day care and how decisions about them will be made. The child is assisted to put forward their views, wishes and feelings as part of the review process.There is no discrete requirement relating to FGM, but reviews would, where relevant, take this into account. The best interests of the child should always be paramount.

Female Genital Mutilation: Education

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received about female genital mutilation education being taught in schools; and from whom.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government how female genital mutilation education is taught in schools.

baroness berridge: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is child abuse and it is illegal. Services, including schools, should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse.Schools are able to teach about FGM as part of non-statutory personal, social, health and economic education.By the end of secondary education, pupils should have been taught about FGM. Schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM. Pupils should be taught where to find support and that it is a criminal offence to perform or assist in the performance of FGM or fail to protect a person for whom one is responsible from FGM. Pupils may also need support to recognise when relationships (including family relationships) are unhealthy or abusive (including the unacceptability of neglect, emotional, sexual and physical abuse, honour-based violence and forced marriage) and strategies to manage this or access support for oneself or others at risk. All teaching for these subjects should be age and developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the pupil, including ensuring that no pupil feels stigmatised. Schools should work closely with the local community and key partners, such as school nurses, and draw on local health data when planning their teaching for any aspect of these subjects. Teaching about FGM will not be in isolation but as part of a wider context of positive relationships, health and mental wellbeing. The focus on ensuring pupils know how to get further help should be threaded throughout these subjects.The statutory guidance for these subjects was developed as part of a call for evidence and public consultation, and the government’s response is attached and available here:https://consult.education.gov.uk/pshe/relationships-education-rse-health-education/supporting_documents/180718%20Consultation_call%20for%20evidence%20response_policy%20statement.pdf.The summary of the public consultation includes a list of the organisations engaged within Annex A, which is attached and available here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/780768/Government_Response_to_RSE_Consultation.pdf. 



HL2844_HL2845_RSHE_consultation_response
(PDF Document, 469.29 KB)




HL2844_HL2845_RSHE_consultation_organisations
(PDF Document, 533.57 KB)

Ministry of Justice

Tribunals: Personal Independence Payment

baroness thomas of winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to address the reported backlog of Personal Independence Payments tribunal claims.

lord keen of elie: HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has been working with the Tribunal’s judiciary both to appoint additional judges and panel members and to list more Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals into each tribunal session. Case-management “triage” sessions have also been introduced, with the aim of reducing the time taken for appeals to reach final determination. In addition, HMCTS has recently launched a new digital service with a view to enabling speedier processing of appeals.All these measures have the aim of increasing the capacity of the Tribunal and reducing the time taken to deal with PIP appeals. The number of PIP appeals outstanding in the latest period for which data are available shows a decrease of 13% when compared to the same period in 2018.

Ministry of Defence

Army Reserve: Coronavirus

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the first aid, (2) the trauma and triage, and (3) the security and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defence, capabilities of the Army Reserve; and what plans they have, if any, to deploy the Army Reserve to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness goldie: Defence has a number of existing contingency plans in place to provide support to civil authorities, including to the NHS. Our personnel are already providing assistance in a number of capacities and this includes those with specialist medical training. Considering the likely additional call on military assistance to mitigate COVID-19 related staff absences in civil authorities, and the increasing volume of patients requiring treatment by the NHS, Defence is consistently monitoring and enhancing its plans, training and readiness in order to support additional requests.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Supermarkets: Coronavirus

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with supermarkets about the provision of online slots for home delivery of foodstuffs and vital supplies to older vulnerable groups.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry during disruption to supply situations. Our retailers already have highly resilient supply chains and they are working around the clock to ensure people have the food and products they need. Industry is adapting quickly to these changes in demands, and we welcome the actions they are taking to support demand for online deliveries for older and vulnerable groups, including hiring more staff and prioritising delivery slots for those that need them most. To help industry respond to this unprecedented demand we have introduced new measures to support online deliveries. We have issued guidance to local authorities to allow extended delivery hours to supermarkets so that shelves can be filled up more quickly, and we have implemented extensions to drivers’ hours. We are also temporarily relaxing certain elements of competition law to ensure retailers are able to collaborate effectively in the national interest, for example by sharing distribution depots and delivery vans. The Government has begun to deliver food parcels to those identified by the NHS as being extremely clinically vulnerable. We are working quickly to support people who do not fall into the category of being clinically vulnerable, but still need help getting essential food supplies. This could include those who are elderly, disabled or who have health conditions that make it difficult for them to get the food they need. We will be launching a communications campaign to signpost vulnerable people to a range of support options. We are working closely with Local Authorities to direct vulnerable people to support available at the local level, as well as working in parallel with supermarkets to prioritise vulnerable individuals. Wherever possible, people should continue to rely on friends, families and wider community support.

Food: Production

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toencourage domestic food productionas a result of COVID-19.

lord gardiner of kimble: We are lucky in the UK that we have the climate, the landscape, and the entrepreneurial farmers and food producers that equip us to produce world-class food. We will always champion our farmers and producers to provide a reliable and sustainable food supply to the British public, supporting them to grow more of our great British food. This includes through using powers under our landmark Agriculture Bill, and through our work with the Food and Drink Sector Council, a formal industry partnership with Government, helping create a more productive and sustainable food and drink sector.Half of the food that the UK population consumes is home-grown and it is renowned for its quality, high standards of food safety, traceability, animal welfare and sustainability. The Government has well established ways of working with the food and farming industry on potential disruptions to the supply chain. We will work closely with stakeholders and industry to support preparations for a range of scenarios and are ready to respond to emerging issues quickly and effectively.

Home Office

China: Uighurs

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 18 March (HL2309), what action they will take against any company that has published an annual statement as required under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 but has been accused of profiting from Uyghur slave labour.

baroness williams of trafford: Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 made the UK the first country to require large businesses to report annually on steps taken to prevent modern slavery, including forced labour, in their operations and supply chains.The Act does not require organisations to certify that their supply chains are slavery free but asks businesses to be transparent about their risks and measures taken to mitigate these. To improve reporting quality, we are developing a government-run registry of modern slavery statements to make it easier for consumers, investors and civil society to hold businesses to account. We have also consulted on proposals to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act and increase transparency and improve compliance.The Government is aware of the risks of forced labour in Xinjiang impacting on supply chains of businesses with a footprint in the UK and is discussing this issue with businesses, as well as standard setting and industry bodies which bring together business and civil society organisations. The UK Government expressed its concerns about China’s systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang, including credible and growing reports of forced labour, during the recent UN Human Rights Council.

Visas: Migrant Workers

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy towards migrants who are in the countrybeyond their visa expiration date but who are unable to travel due to global travel restrictions.

baroness williams of trafford: Due to travel restrictions because of coronavirus, some individuals may be facing uncertainty in relation to the expiry date of their current visa in the United Kingdom.We are taking steps to ensure foreign nationals will not be penalised as a result of coronavirus and related travel restrictions, outside of their control.A coronavirus immigration mailbox CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk has been set up and there is a freephone number 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) for those who wish to discuss their individual circumstances.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to the deployment ofpolice officers to ensure that peopleare social distancing.

baroness williams of trafford: We expect people to do the right thing and follow the guidance that will help keep us all safe.The Government is working with the police to ensure they have relevant powers to enforce the social distancing measures. We will continue to work closely with the police to ensure we effectively support efforts to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

Cabinet Office

Economic Situation: Coronavirus

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the Prime Minister was first briefed by officials on the potential threats posed by COVID-19 to the UK economy.

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government on whatdate the Cabinet was first briefed about the threats posed to public health and the economy byCOVID-19.

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the Prime Minister was first briefed by officials about COVID-19 and its potential impact on public health.

lord true: The Prime Minister and Cabinet have been regularly briefed on COVID-19 since the outbreak of the virus. These briefings have included assessments of the potential impacts to the UK economy and public health. These issues have also regularly been discussed at meetings of the COBR Committee. Additionally, since 16 March, a series of Cabinet Committees have convened to support the Government’s efforts.

Treasury

Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government why (1) betting shops, (2) bingo halls, and (3) casinos, were excluded from the business rate holiday; and what plans they have to extend such businesses the same relief as granted to other retail and leisure businesses.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government has set out a package of measures to support businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. The Chancellor previously announced a 100% rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in 2020-21. On 25 March the Government went further and removed some of the exclusions for this relief, so that eligible retail, leisure, and hospitality properties that will have to close as a result of the measures announced by the Prime Minister in his statement of the 23 March, will now be eligible for the relief. Support is also available to those not eligible for business rates relief. This includes the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for small and medium-sized businesses, a statutory sick pay relief package, the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, and a new lending facility from the Bank of England for larger firms.

Self-employed: Government Assistance

viscount trenchard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to freelance workers, and in particular, to those who work in the music festivals sector.

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to support the self-employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord agnew of oulton: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new support for the self-employed on 26 March 2020. The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will help those with lost trading profits due to COVID-19. It will allow eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed and is one of the most generous self-employed support schemes in the world. To qualify, an individual’s self-employed trading profits must be less than £50,000 and more than half of their income comes from self-employment. 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment will be eligible for this scheme. HM Revenue & Customs will contact individuals if they are eligible for and invite them to apply online using a simple form. HMRC are working on this urgently and expect people to be able to access the Scheme no later than the beginning of June. More information about the Scheme, including the full eligibility criteria and how to claim, is available on GOV.UK. The Scheme supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses and employees, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available on GOV.UK.

Self-employed: Government Assistance

viscount trenchard: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is weighted for London; and what plans they have for those whose salaries exceed the threshold of the Scheme.

lord agnew of oulton: The grant provided in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is not weighted for London. Any UK organisation with employees can apply for cash grants of 80% of employees’ wages up to a cap of £2,500 per month. This grant is not designed to subsidise those on very high wages. The cap of £2,500 per month is above the UK median earnings level.